Curfew imposed in 15 police station areas of Jaipur(Lead:Jaipur blast)

Jaipur, May 14 : Curfew has been imposed in 15 to 16 police station areas of Jaipur hours after eight serial blasts rock Jaipur, claiming the lives of 70 people and injuring over 200 others.

The curfew has been imposed between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Schools and offices have been closed for the day.

A shutdown has been called across Rajasthan in protest against the blasts which took place at Manas Chowk, Johari Bazar, Tripolia Bazar, Badi Choupal, Choti Choupal, Kotwali areas of Jaipur's Walled City.

The banned Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami (HuJI), which operates from Bangladesh, is believed to be behind the blasts, which took place at intervals spread over 15 minutes.

The bombs were made of iron ball bearings, and alarm clock circuits and were planted in new bicycles.

A team of the National Security Guards (NSG) has reached Jaipur for further investigations.

Minister of State for Home, Sri Prakash Jaiswal, described the serial blasts as part of a major conspiracy.

"We are ready to extend all help to the Rajasthan government. Security has been beefed up across the country, especially in the neighbouring States of Delhi and Haryana. We are capable of handling any terrorist misadventure," he said.

A state of high alert has been declared in Delhi, Mumbai, Karnataka, Bihar, Hyderabad and Maharashtra, all areas that have experienced bomb explosions in the recent past.

Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed across Jaipur to help deal with the situation.

The State Government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh for the family of those killed in the explosions, Rs one lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those injured.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has declared a state mourning today in honour of the victims.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday night spoke to Raje and offered all Central support to the State Government in dealing with the situation. Dr. Singh also spoke to Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who is on a two-day visit to the north east. Condemning the dastardly attack, Dr. Singh urged the people of Jaipur to remain calm "at this difficult moment".

President Pratibha Patil expressed grief over the loss of lives and condemned the attack.

The last terror strike in Rajasthan occurred on October 11, 2007 at the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, leaving two persons dead and 17 injured.

ANI